Maple Grove Dance Studio Keeps Students Tapping with Online Classes

A Maple Grove dance studio continues to navigate business amid a global pandemic. Earlier this year, Rince Nua Irish Dance Studio shifted to online classes. A few months later, the studio was able to welcome students back for in-person classes. Now, once again, the studio is back to 100% virtual classes. 

Rince Nua Irish Dance Studio in-person classes.

The back and forth changes have been a struggle for dancers like Elsie Wittich. While the 8-year-old recently earned a third-place medal in the virtual Australian Dance Competition, she still wished the contest was in-person. 

“Competitions probably are my favorite, not online competitions. I don’t like those,” Elsie chuckled. 

Due to COVID-19, the young girl found herself dancing in front of a computer screen most of the time. 

“Its just harder because its hard to hear and glitchy on the screen, so I just stick to what I see,” said Elsie.

Rince Nua Irish Dance Studio virtual classes.

Erin Cooney, the owner of Rince Nua Irish Dance Studio typically likes to plan out her full year but she can’t do that anymore with the constant changes. 

“It just feels like sometimes it’s a day by day changes, sometimes week by week, sometimes month by month,” said Cooney. 

While Cooney has experienced technology and communication struggles, she said virtual classes have allowed the studio to accommodate more dancers. 

“To accommodate that, we had to add more days in the week,” said Cooney. “We were offering classes generally only Monday through Thursday classes. Because of the class capacity now, we added Friday and Saturday classes well.”

Cooney said some classes are growing because kids are looking for things to do during COVID.

“Kids are doing a lot of sitting and watching things from home. Anything active would be great; it’s great to get out and get fresh air,” said Cooney.

Dancers will have to continue enduring the frequent changes, but Elsie encourages her peers to stick with it. 

“Stick to what you’re doing and feel happy about what you’re doing too,” Elsie said.

Maple Grove